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Author: Salafi Dawah Manchester

And We Made Their Hearts Firm and Strong, When They Stood Up and Said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the Heavens and The Earth

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

نَّحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ إِنَّہُمۡ فِتۡيَةٌ ءَامَنُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ وَزِدۡنَـٰهُمۡ هُدً۬ى

وَرَبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ إِذۡ قَامُواْ فَقَالُواْ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَن نَّدۡعُوَاْ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَـٰهً۬ا‌ۖ لَّقَدۡ قُلۡنَآ إِذً۬ا شَطَطًا

We narrate unto you (O Muhammad) their story with truth: Truly! They were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah), and We increased them in guidance. And We made their hearts firm and strong, when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any ilah (god) other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in disbelief.

Allaah said: [إِنَّہُمۡ فِتۡيَةٌ ءَامَنُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ – They were young men who believed in their Lord (Allaah)]- Meaning: They believed in the oneness of Allaah and associated none as a partner to Him, so Allaah appreciated and rewarded them for their Eemaan and increased them in guidance. Due to the basis of this guidance to Eemaan, Allaah increased them in guidance, and that necessitates beneficial knowledge and [guided to the performance of] righteous deeds, just as Allaah said [in another Aayah in the Qur’aan]: [وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًى – And Allah increases in guidance those who walk aright [true believers in the Oneness of Allah who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)19:76].

Then Allaah said: [وَرَبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ – And We made their hearts firm and strong]- Meaning: We made them patient and steadfast, and bestowed them with tranquillity in their hearts when they were in that state of inconvenience [or unrest]. This is from Alaah’s kindness and generosity, for He granted them Eemaan, guidance, patience, steadfastness and tranquillity. [Ref 1]

[Allaah] fortified their hearts with patience and firmness; strengthened and supported [their hearts] with the light of Eemaan, so they were able to leave the land of their people, separated themselves from the comfort they were in and fled to the cave [for the safety] of their religion. [Ref 2]

Then Allaah said: [إِذۡ قَامُواْ فَقَالُواْ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ – when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth]- Meaning: Allaah is the One Who created us, provided us with all blessings and provisions, the Who One controls all our affairs and nurtured us [by facilitating us with the ability and means to be guided in our religious and worldly affairs]. Allaah is the creator of the heavens and the earth – He alone created these great things. The images and idols [worshipped besides Him] can neither create nor provide anything; neither can they hurt nor benefit themselves [and others]; neither do they possess power [of causing] death nor [of giving] life, nor of raising the dead.” So, they [i.e. these youth] cited Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah as evidence to establish Tawheed al-Ilaahiyyah, and for this reason Allaah said that they said: [لَن نَّدۡعُوَاْ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَـٰهً۬ا‌ۖ – never shall we call upon any ilah (god) other than Him [Allaah]- Meaning: We will not invoke anyone or anything amongst the creation; [لَّقَدۡ قُلۡنَآ إِذً۬ا شَطَطًا – if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in disbelief]-Meaning: If we invoke others whilst also invoking Allaah- after knowing that Allaah alone is the true Lord and the only one who has the right to be worshipped- then indeed that would be tantamount to great misguidance from the truth and a path that is far removed from what is correct. So, they affirmed both Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Al-Ilaahiyyah; adhered to it, clarified that it is the truth and that what is in opposition to it is falsehood. This shows the perfection of their knowledge and awareness of their Lord and the increased guidance given to them. [Ref 3]


Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’. slightly paraphrased]

Ref 2: An Excerpt from ‘Badaa’i At-Tafseer al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim. 2/157’. slightly paraphrased]

Ref 3: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’. slightly paraphrased]

The People of The Hereafter Are Three – [By Bishr Ibn Al-Haarith (rahimahulaah)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said that Bishr Ibul  Haarith [rahimahullaah] said: The people of the hereafter are three: The Aabid, the Zaahid and the Siddeeq. The Aabid worships Allaah [i.e. with love, fear and hope] whilst being attached to searching for [permissible] provision. The Zaahid worships Allaah [i.e. with love, fear and hope] whilst not being attached to worldly things which one can do without. The Siddeeq worships Allaah [i.e. with love, fear and hope] together with pleasure and compliance [i.e. strict compliance with Allaah’s  commands and prohibitions]; he takes from the [permissible] worldly things when he sees it fit to [do so] and abandons them when he sees it fit [to do so]. [Al-Fawaa-id: page: 175. Abridged & Slightly paraphrased.]


Who is an Aabid?  [A devout worshipper]

Who is a Zaahid? [He is one who abandons those permissible things he is not in need of, which also are not of any benefit to him in the afterlife. (See Madaarij As-Saalikeen). Sufyaan Ath-thawree said that the Zaahid is not the one who eats stringy food or wears woollen clothes, rather he is one who neither rejoices in some worldly gain nor becomes sad when he fails to get something.]

Who is a Siddeeq: [Shaikh Saaleh al Fawzaan says: The Siddeeq is the one who is (known) for much truthfulness and is extremely truthful. [Al-Haa-iyyah: page:117]

Do You Know What Backbiting Is?

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abu Hurairah [radiyallaahu-anhu] narrated that the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’Do you know what backbiting is?’’ They (i.e. the sahaabah) replied Allaah and his Messenger know best’’; he said [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’It is to mention your brother what he dislikes’’. Someone asked, ‘’What if what I said is true?’’ He [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] replied, ‘’If what you said about him is true you have backbitten him, and if it is not true you have slandered him’’. [Muslim]

When is speaking about someone behind his back not considered backbiting? It is not considered backbiting when a person makes a complaint about an oppressor to a person who has the ability to stop the oppression; when seeking help to stop an evil- by making that known to the person who has the ability to stop the evil; when seeking for a fatwa; when warning the Muslims so that they are not deceived; when mentioning a person who commits his evil openly or one who calls to bidah and when identifying someone with a physical defect, whilst not intending defamation. [Subul As-Salaam- Vol 4 page 553-554]

Scapegoating

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيئَةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِ بَرِيئًا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

And whoever earns a fault or a sin and then throws it on to someone innocent, he has indeed burdened himself with falsehood and a manifest sin. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 112]

Be warned against Fujoor Fil Khusoomah [Iniquity when disputing]! Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said, ‘’Iniquity when disputing is of types: To claim what one is not entitled to and reject what is obligatory upon him [to fulfil, give etc]’’.


[Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen 4/49-50]

 

And In Whatsoever You Differ, The Decision Thereof Is With Allaah

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ

”And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah (He is the ruling Judge).” [1]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimaahullaah) said:

This is a clear text regarding the fact that the judgement for all our differing is to be referred back to Allaah alone. He is the Judge in this (affair) through the speech of His Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). If you were to give precedence to the intellect over Allaah’s Judgement, then you are not (considered as) one who judges by Allaah’s Revelation and His Book.[2]


[1] Qur’aan. 42:10

[2] As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah 3/828. See here; Ruling by other than the Sharee’ah: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ05&articleID=MNJ050003&articlePages=1

The Three Types of Dhulm -[Oppression or Injustice]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

What is Dhulm -injustice or oppression? Dzulm [injustice (or oppression)] is of three types according to the people of knowledge (i.e. the scholars):

Firstly: The greatest of them is shirk and why is shirk referred as Dzulm [injustice]? That is because the basis of injustice is to place something in other than its rightful place. And the meaning of shirk is to direct acts of worship to other than its rightful place and this is the greatest injustice – because when they (i.e. the people of shirk) directed acts of worship to other than its rightful place and to those who are not deserving of it, they equated the created (beings) to the Creator and a weak one (i.e. a created being) to Al-Qawiy [The One Perfect in Strength (i.e. Allaah)], who is not unable to do anything. Therefore, is there any greater injustice after this?

The second type of Dzulm [injustice] is committed when a person oppresses himself by committing sins. A sinner oppresses himself because he exposes himself to punishment, even though it is obligated on his to save himself and place himself in an appropriate situation and that is to obey Allaah etc

The third type of Dzulm [injustice] is committed when a person oppresses others (or commits injustice against them) by taking their wealth (unlawfully), or backbiting them, or spreading tales about them, or stealing their wealth, or violating their honour through backbiting, tale carrying, slander, or shedding their blood by way of unlawful murder, or beating them, inflicting injuries, degrading them without right etc [Paraphrased. Source: I’aanah Al-Mustafeed Bi-Sharhi Kitaab At-Tawheed’ page 55-56 by Shaykh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan  (may Allaah preserve him)]

An Ignoramus is Better than a Person who has Knowledge But Does not Act – Shaykh Uthaymeen

Shaykh Uthaymeen said:

Verily, we all know that the intent of knowledge is action. Because knowledge is a means and action is the fruits. And if a person does not benefit with his knowledge, then an ignoramus is better than him. And many knowledge based issues are understood by most students, however they do not carry them out, whether it was in (issues of) worship, or dealings with the creation. And this there is no doubt is a deficiency; a deficiency, and a reason for deficiency, meaning deficiency in knowledge. For if a person was to act by his knowledge he benefits and his knowledge increases. So, whoever acts by that which he has learnt, then Allāh will forgive him for that which he did not know.

Naseehah – [A Brief Faa’idah]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:

The meaning of ‘Naseehah’ is Al-Khuloos [purity]. It is said that something is ‘Naasih’ meaning: It is free from deceit. And it is said: ‘Asalun Naasihun’ [Pure Honey]; Labanun Naasihun [Pure Milk]- meaning: Free from deceit and bad mixtures. This is how it is [with regards] to the religion of Islaam, for indeed it is free from every falsehood and deception, cheating and treachery. It is a pure and unadulterated religion. Likewise, the Muslim’s apparent [affairs] are the same as his hidden [affairs]- upon purity and safe from evil manners, treachery, betrayal and other than that. As for the one who cheats, deceives and plots, or his apparent [affairs] are in opposition to his hidden [affairs], this trait is not from the Religion. [Source: An Excerpt from ‘Minhatur-Rabbaaniyyah Fee Sharhi Ar-ba’een An-Nawawiyyah’- page 12]

 

An Affair That Should Make Us Shy In The Presence of Allaah When The Nafs Inclines Towards Sin

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ

إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ۬

مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ۬

And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge). (Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it). [50:16-18]

Few Reminders from the above Aayaat:

Allaah [The Most High] informed us that He alone created human beings-males and females- and He knows all their state of affairs. He knows everything that is hidden about them and what their own souls whisper to them. Allaah [The Most High] is nearer to them than their jugular veins by His knowledge, even though the jugular vein is the closest thing to the human. Therefore, this should make the human being mindful of Allaah -the One Who knows all the hidden affairs in the soul and heart of the human being in all circumstances. This should also make the human being shy in the presence of Allaah -that he [or she] is not seen committing what Allaah has forbidden or abandoning what Allaah has commanded. [An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’. Slightly paraphrased]

None Can Stop Allaah’s Favours and Blessings from Reaching Others!

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

مَّا يَفۡتَحِ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحۡمَةٍ۬ فَلَا مُمۡسِكَ لَهَاۖ وَمَا يُمۡسِكۡ فَلَا مُرۡسِلَ لَهُ ۥ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۚۦ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

Whatever of mercy Allaah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. [Soorah Al-Faatir’ Ayah 2]

[مَّا يَفۡتَحِ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحۡمَةٍ۬ – Whatever of mercy Allaah may grant to mankind]- Meaning: the good things of this worldly life and provision; [فَلَا مُمۡسِكَ لَهَاۖ- none can withhold it]. This Aayah notifies us of the fact that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, because there is neither anyone who can withhold what Allaah wants to grant [mankind] nor is there anyone who can grant what Allaah wants to withhold from [mankind].


[An Excerpt from ‘Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer’ by Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah). slightly paraphrased]